Beach Bound

You looked so very pretty, when we met in Ocean City,

like someone, oh, so easy to adore.

I sang this little ditty, on our way to Ocean City,

heading south along New Jersey's shore.

On the way to Cape May, I fell in love with you.

On the way to Cape May, I saw my dreams come true.

I was taken by your smile, as we drifted by Sea Isle.

My heart was really gone when we reached Avalon.

On the way to Cape May, Stone Harbor's skies were blue.

We were naming the day when Wildwood came in view.

If you're gonna be my spouse, we'd better head for that Court House

On the way to Cape May,

On the way to Cape May.

Rowan turns 7!

7!  Wasn't she just born?  Time flies.....at the speed of light some days.

Rowan asked if she could have a birthday party again this year.  Every year I try to do something different, something no one else has done before - just to be different and unique.  This year's party place?  Doylestown Rock Gym!

I got the idea from friends of ours who told me about the gym and that they did birthday parties.  I checked it out online and decided to book it!  Rowan was really excited about it but also a little nervous.  So on the last day of school Rowan, Lily and I went to check it out in the afternoon.  They donned their gear and had a great time!

Afterwards Rowan did not want to leave and could not wait for her party to come on Saturday after the trial run!

Saturday was party day.  We invited 15 girls.  12 confirmed and then 2 backed out at the last minute because of illness so Lily and her friend Sophia, who is the younger sister of one of Rowan's friends that was at the party, got to participate as well.

It started out kind of slow as the girls were a little unsure of what they could and could not do but as the party progressed they were all climbing like they had been doing it for years!  We got alot of compliments on our party location choice and there were smiles around.  Most importantly - no injuries!

The gym is actually not air conditioned but the weather was good that day so it did not feel too hot in thy gym at all.  With a private climbing room and party room it felt like we had the place to ourselves.  We decided since the party was from 230-430 to only serve cake but had plenty of waters and beverages on hand to combat the hard work the girls were putting out.  Nobody seemed to mind the lack of pizza that usually accompanies parties.

After a rousing (shouting) rendition of Happy Birthday for Rowan it was cake time!

And that concluded another successful party for my girl!

Next up - Cape May beach here we come!!!  11 days and counting til vacation...whoohoo!!

School ends - summer begins

The 13th of June was Rowan's last day of 1st grade.  Official picture below:

She finished at 1130am so I took the afternoon off so we could hang out.  Camp did not start until Monday so she had 2 1/2 days off, Parker took Thursday off with her, I took Friday.

Friday we planned a day trip to the Crayola Factory in Easton, PA.  It took about an hour to drive there and we spent almost 5 hours there!  Both girls had a great time.  For a small place it packed a whole lot of stuff for kids to do in it.

Of course no trip to a place like that would be complete without a visit to the store - on display, the world's largest crayon!

All in all it was a great day and a place I would recommend or even visit again!

Backyard Camping

What's the best part of camping in a tent?  Sleeping outdoors in the fresh air.  What's the worst part of camping in a tent?  No nearby bathroom.  How do you solve this?  Camp in your own backyard!

A couple of weekends ago the weather was perfect on a Friday night to do just that.  Somehow I got out of it and got the bed and the house to myself but by all accounts the girls, Parker and even Jazz were loving sleeping outside.

The chiminea was lit, s'mores were made and the tv was outside so movies could be watched.  All in all a pretty fun camping experience for the girls.  So much so that they keep asking to do it again!

Crooked Billet Spring Concert 2012

One of the final activities of the school year for Rowan is the all school spring concert.  It is held at the high school and all of Crooked Billet participates in it.  The concert was this past Tuesday night and was a rousing success!  Rowan sang her little heart out with all her classmates and was rewarded by flowers from us at the end.

Just another typical week

Every week around here is crazy for us anymore but soon...soon... it all ends.  In a typical week we have two gymnastics lessons, two swimming lessons, Daisys, one to two t-ball games and a soccer game.  PLUS our newly started farm crop share pick up once a week and extra curricular activities that we come up with on a whim just because we are not busy enough!  AND the pool is open so of course we need to go there too!

BUT - tonight is Rowan's last t-ball game for the season, swimming lessons ended on Monday, gymnastics ended last Saturday, Daisys ended last week and soccer ends this coming Sunday.  And then we will all take a deep breath and sit down and look at each other and say "I'm bored."

Our Pennypack crop share that we are sharing with the Kembles started last week.  Every Wednesday we go to the farm in the afternoon to pick up that week's offerings.  Some weeks you can pick some things yourself as well, last week it was strawberries - I think the kids ate more than we took home but it was the experience.

Daisys ended the next night and all the girls are in first grade so that is it for them - they now become Brownies.  I have decided not to carry on as a troop leader but if no one steps up to help Kellie don't be surprised if I post in the fall that I am doing it again.  We had a little badge ceremony for the girls, they each stood up and said a line from a poem, were presented their badges and cookie selling incentives and then we all gathered for pizza for everyone including the parents.  It was definitely a fun experience and one I never in a million years thought I would be involved in but hey, people change and it is amazing what you will do for your kids and their friends!  At the end of the ceremony Kellie and I were surprised by some of the parents who chipped in and got us each a daisy plant (already put it in my garden) and an AmEx gift card.  Very unexpected but much appreciated.

Friday of last week we went to the last of our mini game package for the Phillies.  We went down a little early so the girls could play at the Phanatic Phun Zone because last time we were there it was closed by the time we saw it and they were upset.  The game started out good but started to pour during the top of the 5th to the point of a rain delay.  Then we heard there were tornado warnings close to our house so we decided to head home to check on Jazz.  Turned out all was well, and play did resume after an hour and the Phillies did win the game so we were 3-0 for games we attended this year!

Rowan wanted to make a sign to take to the game to try and make it on the jumbo-tron.  She worked hard on colouring her Phanatic and making it just right and held it up proudly.

This of course meant Lily had to make and take a sign as well - her choice?  A blue elephant of course.

Sunday I got a call asking if Rowan wanted to come over and play at Olivia's house. We dropped her off on our way to taking Lily to soccer and I headed over around 430 to pick her up.  They were in the midst of a killer lemonade sale, at $3/glass (their idea) they were bound and determined to make money it seems!  Turns out they let people pay what they wanted and as we got ready to leave Kellie divided up the funds and each of the 3 older girls walked away with $6 each!  I told Kellie I was sending Rowan over there eveyr weekend!

I could not be more proud of Rowan though. Today they did a walk for the American Cancer Society and she chose to donate her $6 in earnings to the walk.

*insert big beaming proud mama smile*